Mongolian Sum Health Project
Need
While hospitals in the capital Ulaanbatar, Mongolia, have equipment and supplies the rural or sum hospitals often have only a staff and beds. Both Mongolian traditional medicine and modern medicine could play a role in keeping nomadic herders healthy.
Mongolian traditional medicine is cost effective, culturally appropriate, and powerful. For instance, when Nomadicare invited Mongolian medicine doctor Dr. Boldsaikhan to teach a course at the University of Vermont, he shocked the class by diagnosing a students brain tumor from a urine diagnosis. And he was right. The student had been previously diagnosed at the University Medical Center.
Program
In two aimags (provinces) Nomadicare implemented training to harmonize modern medicine with traditional practices. A doctor and a laboratory technician or nurse from each sum hospital attended the training.
Impact
Fifty health care providers in South Gobi and 80 in Khovsgol were trained to harmonize Eastern and Western medicine. As a result, a population of 175,000 rural Mongolians now have access health care closer to home.
Future Plan
Nomadicare will be available to consult on the program specifics of this project, including the syllabus for each class -- traditional Mongolian medicine and energy healing, as well as Laboratory Safety Techniques and Procedures.
Model Curriculum For Training
To supplement the Western Medicine that the sum hospitals supply, the expert Mongolian teachers in our program train a doctor and health professional from each sum in both Laboratory Safety Techniques and Testing and traditional Mongolian medicine.
Laboratory Training
Diagnosis
Tests: Biochemistry and immunology, urine test, hemoglobin, glucose test, complete blood tests and others.
Procedures
-Sterile techniques to protect the doctor and patients
-Quality control tests
-Microscope use
-Preparation of patients
-Correct techniques for particular tests
-Testing procedures: drawing blood, collecting urine
Traditional Mongolian Medicine
Diagnosis
-Pulses (12 pulses give condition of the 12 organs)
-Urine
-Tongue
-Observations
-Questions
Treatment/public health/prevention
-Lifestyle changes
-Diet
-Natural Medicines
-Thearapies such as acupressure, cupping, moxibustion, massage, and energy healing
Life Energy Healing
-Introduction to healing methods
-Experiential classes
